I don’t care if Newt get’s out, get’s in, stands on his head or does a waltz. He isn’t in this thing anymore. He has no money. As for Rick getting to the magic number, yes he can. Romney damaged himself heavily today when his dopey worker talked about him being an etch a sketch. It is going to be talked about for weeks and really scare folks that were just giving in to Milt being the nominee. There are some big non-Romney states coming up. It may just keep him from getting the delegates needed to win. If that is the case, Rick and Milt are the only ones qualified to be in nomination per the GOP rules and I read Newt delegates are jumping ship for Rick already. He could mount a strong fight on the floor to get the extra delegates Milt would need to win.
Here’s why I asked if Rick can beat Romney 1 on 1 and get 1144, absent Newt.
Objectively, no offense, I don’t think he can. Given that circumstance, Newt helps him by remaining a candidate.
1. Newt almost exclusively attacks Romney and the GOP-e; even today in LA, where he should be going after Rick, he doesn’t— it’s Romney and the elites all the time.
2. There’s few better than Newt at hammering away at the strategic weaknesses of other candidates— If I were Rick, I would want him arguing the cause that benefits me.
3. At the convention, Rick’s natural ally is Newt, certainly not Romney.
Bottom line, if Rick could win outright, then sure, get Newt out. But, where it doesn’t appear that he can, Newt is a great asset to get him where he wants to be- a brokered convention.
Well, I understand your view- but for what it’s worth, imo, Rick doesn’t get to the convention without Newt. He gets steamrolled by vastly superior money and organization.